We all know politicians love a photo opportunity, especially if it involves hard hats and high-vis. But sometimes the timing is just off.
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Take Friday, when they descended on the site of the new bridge for a sod turning. It was the day after another fatality on the troubled Princes Highway south of Nowra.
Yes, we acknowledge the ceremonial importance of the official start of work (official because work on this project started years ago). But we also expect the politicians attending (particularly ministers) to be across local issues.
When we ask whether any consideration is being given to fast tracking promised highway upgrades we expect more than deflection and obfuscation, more than transparent talking points. We're less interested in what has spent than what will be spent - and when.
As this latest tragedy demonstrates, and the COVID-19 recession reinforces, the need to get cracking on the highway is urgent - for safety and for economic resuscitation.
The last thing we want to see is the recession used as an excuse to redirect infrastructure money into the city at the expense of our region.
